Nonfouling lap former for cigarette machines



9- F. DI lANNI ONFOULING LAP FORMER FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES Filed Feb. 8, 1935 Patented Feb. 28, 1939 2,148,685

[UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NONFOULING LAP FORMER FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES Frank .Di Ianni, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application February 8, 1935, Serial No. 5,652

1'7 Claims. (Cl. 13143) This invention relates to improvements in the With these and other objects not specifically lap formers'of rod-forming tubes used in conmentioned in view, the invention consists in certinuous-rodcigarette machines'to lap the freshly tain constructions and combinations hereinafter I pasted margin of the wrapper web emerging from fully described and then specifically set forth in the rodpaster, down upon the cigarette rod and the claims hereunto appended. 5

hold it in overlapped position on the other mar- In the accompanying drawing which forms gin of the wrapperweb while the cigarette rod a part of this specification and in which like is carried'by an endless rod-forming tape to the characters of reference indicate the same or like ma sealer by which the seam 'is pressed and dried parts:

to form the finished cigarette rod. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a rod-forming 10 The main object of the present invention is tube equipped with the improved lap former; to prevent fouling of the lap former bythe sur- Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, on line 22 plus paste which is squeezed out of the seam and of Fig. 1;

i would otherwise collect on the lap-closing block, Fig. 3 is a cross-section on lines 3--3 of Figs. thereby obviating stoppage of the machine for 1 and 2; 5 cleaning-of the block and thus increasing the Fig. 4 is a cross-section on lines 4-4 of Figs.

production of the machine. A further object is 1 and 2; and to so construct the lap former that the margins Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 55 of Fig. 2. of the endless rod-forming tape, which are held In carrying the invention into effect there is down upon the cigarette rod during its passage provided a traveling rod-forming tape adapted 20 through the lap former, may spread apart relato forward a cigarette rod having the interior of tively before entering the-sealer, so as to clear one of its wrapper margins pasted, a longitudithe hot sealing surface of the latter and avoi nally channeled bottom block adapted to supdamaging the tape. port the tape in its channel, a lap former se- The first object may be achieved by making curedto the bottom block and hollowed longithe lap former in two parts, a lap-closing block tudinally to provide, together with the channel,

1 and a plate secured to the channeled bottom a bore in which the pasted margin is lapped on block of. the rod-forming tube, with a gap bethe other margin to form a seam, the lap former tween them, this gap extending circumferentially being provided with an open gap along the seam,

*from' a short distance above the cigarette rod whereby the paste squeezed from the seam can- 30 seam to ashort distance below thesame, so that not foul the lap former. In the best construethe surplus paste remains on the cigarette rod tions contemplated there is provided a traveling and is subsequently removed by the action of the heated sealer band arranged to engage the seam sealer. If the latter is of the self-cleaning endas the cigarette rod is forwarded from. between 1ess band type, such as disclosed in the patent the bottom block and lap former on the rod- 35 to R. E. Rundell, No. 1,907,587, granted May 9, forming tape, and a scraper engaging said band, 1933, or in the co-pending application of E. D. whereby the surplus paste is continuously re- Smith, S, N, 727,003, filed May 22, 1934, issuing moved from the cigarette rod. Furthermore, the into Patent 1,992,723, the surplus paste is wiped lap former, in the best constructions, includes from the cigarette rod by the endless band and a lap-closing block secured to the bottom block 40 continuously removed from the latter during the at one side of the channel and provided with operation of the machine,thus eliminating the a tip overhanging and terminating on the exstoppages heretofore necessary for cleaning the terior of the pasted margin of the wrapper, and

7 block. a plate extending along the other side of the To achieve the second obj ectanotch is formed channel and of such height that there is an 45 in the tip of the lap-closing block alongside of open gap between it and the tip of the lap-closthe open gap, but extending only a portion of its ing block along the seam, the lap-closing block length back from the sealer end, to permit one having its tip cut away near its far end to permargin of the rod-forming tape to spread away mit the adjacent margin of the rod-forming tape d-from the'heated sealer. The remaining portion to spread out of the path of the sealer band,

of the tip at the other end of the gap is tapered and provided with an angle-iron extending into toward the receiving end of the rod-forming the notch thus formed to bear against the seam. tubeso as to catch the incoming margin. of the These various means and parts may be widely rod-forming tape andguideit underneath said varied in construction within the scope of the 53 a v claims for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the specific construction shown and described.

Referring to Fig. l, the paster wheel 5, which forms a part of the paster of the continuous-rod cigarette machine, turns in the bracket 6 and applies paste to the interior upstanding margin of the wrapper 'web P of the cigarette rod C. The paster may be of any Well known construction operating to deliver paste or casein to the periphery of the paster wheel; and the sealer may be of the self-cleaning type, such as shown in the Rundell or Smith patents cited above, or of the manually cleaned type disclosed in the patent to C. H. Gibson et al., Number 1,945,433, granted January 30, 1934. In the present embodiment the sealer illustrated is of the endless band type shown in the patent to E. D. Smith identified above, in which the lower run of the endless band I is heated by the electrical heater unit la and driven by the wheel 8, engages and dries the seam. of the cigarette rod C and picks up the surplus paste from the rod. The paste collecting on the belt I is then removed by a scraper 9 and drops into a waste pct 10.

The cigarette rod C is carried from the paster wheel or disc 5 to the sealer band 1 by a continuously moving endless rod-forming tape T which is supported in a longitudinal channel of semi-circular cross-section provided in the bottom block l2 of the rod-forming tube. Upon the block i2 is mounted the lap former which, together with the block 12, constitutes the rodforming tube and folds the pasted margin of the wrapper web P upon the rod, thus closing the seam.

The improved lap former, Figs. 1 to 4, consists of a lap-closing block l3 mounted at one side of the channel in the block l2 and overhanging the cigarette rod, and of a plate l4 mounted on the other side, the block [3 and. plate [4 being hollowed out longitudinally to form with the channel in the bottom block [2 a bore in which the pasted marginof the wrapper web is lapped on the other margin to form a seam. The amount of circumferential overhang of block l3 and the height of plate I4 are so chosen that an open gap is provided between them along the overlapping edge of the seam. As shown in Fig. 3, the overlapping edge of the seam projects a short distance beyond the tip 130. of block l3 and terminates some distance away from the edge T" of tape T projecting above plate l4. Therefore, the surplus paste squeezed from the seam can not come into contact with either part of the lap former or with the edge T" of tape T, but is carried away on the cigarette rod from which it is removed by the sealer as described.

To prevent the edge T of the tape T from being damaged by contact with the sealer band 1, a second axial gap, extending for an appreciable distance at the sealer end of the lap former, is produced by cutting away a portion of the tip I3a of block l3; and an angle-iron l5, Fig. 4, is attached to the remaining portion 13b in such a manner that the vertical leg of the same, at its outer edge [5a, forms the continuation of the tip edge 13a of the block but leaves a space between its inner edge lb and the recessed edge l3b of the clock and bears against the seam. The forward end of angle piece I5 is concaved to fit thev curvature of the portion of the'sealer band I 'trained'over wheel 8, and the inner edge I5b of its downwardly projecting leg is tapered towards the rear, so as to provide a suitable space for spreading of tape margin T. The edge T of tape T projects above the plate l4 into the main gap of the lap former.

In the operation of a cigarette machine equipped with the above described rod-forming tube, the wrapper web P on which the tobacco is showered, or otherwise deposited, is advanced in the channel of the bottom block l2 by the rod-forming tape under the tongue (not shown) which compacts the tobacco in the usual manner. Beyond the tongue, one margin of the Wrapper web is drawn over the periphery of the paster wheel 5, and paste is thus applied to the interior of the wrapper web margin. As the rod-forming tape draws the pasted wrapper between the block 13 and plate I4 of the lap former the margins of the tape are thereby folded inwardly with the margins of the wrapper web to bring the pasted margin into lapped relation to the other margin of the wrapper web, the tape margin T being caught by the tapered side of the tip [3a on block l3 and guided underneath said tip. The middle portion of the tip, along the open gap, holds the wrapper margin in lapped relation until the seam passes under the vertical leg of q the angle-iron l5, whereupon the tape margin T is free to spread away from the cigarette rod as its seam engages the heater sealer band, thus finishing the cigarette rod.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigarette rod-forming tube, the combination with a longitudinally channeled bottom block adapted to support in its channel a traveling cigarette rod having the interior of one of its wrapper margins pasted, of a lap former secured to said bottom block and hollowed longitudinally to provide, together with said channel, a bore in which the pasted margin is lapped on the other margin to form a seam, said lap former being provided with an open gap along the seam extending across the outer seam edge, whereby the paste squeezed from the seam cannot foul the lap former.- a

2. In a cigarette rod-forming tube, the combination with a longitudinally channeled bottom block adapted to support in its channel a traveling cigarette rod having the interior of one of its wrapper margins pasted, of a lap former secured to said bottom block and ho-llowed longitudinally to provide, together with said channel, a bore in,which the pasted margin is lapped on the other margin to form a seam, said lap former being provided with an open gap along the seam, whereby the paste squeezed from the seam cannot foul the lap former, said lap former including a. lap-closing block secured to said bottom block at one side of said channel and provided with a tip overhanging and terminating on the exterior of the pasted margin of the wrapper within the edge of the same, and a plate extending along the other side of said groove and of such height that there is an open gap between it and the tip of the lap-closing block along the seam. I

3. The combination with a traveling rod.- forming tape adapted to forward a cigarette rod having the interior of one of its wrapper margins pasted, of a longitudinally channeled bottom block adapted to support said tape in its channel, and a lap former's'ecured to said bottom block and hollowed longitudinally to provide, together with said channel, a bore in which the'pasted margin is lapped on the other margintolform a seam, said lap former being provided with an open gap along the seam extending across the outer seam edge, whereby the pastesqueezed from the seam cannot foul thelapformer or tape;

The. combination with a traveling rodforming tape adapted'to forward a cigarette rod having the interior of one of its wrapper margins pasted,*'of a longitudinallychanneled bottom block adapted to support said tape in its channel; and a lap former secured to said bottom blockwand' hollowed longitudinally to provide, together w'ithsaid channel, a bore in which the pasted margin is lapped on the other margin to form a seam, said lap former being provided withanfopen gap along the seam, whereby the pastelsqueezed from the seam cannot foul the lap :formehor tape, said lap former including a'lape-Iclosing block secured to said bottom block at one side of said channel and provided with a tip overhanging and terminating on the ex- ,t'erior of "the pasted margin of the wrapper within the edge :of the same, and a plate extending along the other side of said groove of such heightthat there is an open gap between the marginof-the tape adjacent it and the tip of the Flap-closing block along the seam.

The combination with a traveling rodformingtape adapted to forward a cigarette rod having the interior of'one of its wrapper margi-ns pasted, of alongitudinaily channeled bottom block adapted to support said tape in its channel; anda lap formersecured to said bottom block andjhollowedlongitudinally to provide, together with said channel, a bore in which the pasted margin is lapped on the other margin to form a seam, said lap former being provided with an open gap along the seam, whereby thepastesqueezed from the seam cannot foul the lap former, said lap former including a lapclosing block secured to said bottom block at one side of said channel and provided with a tip overhanging and" terminating on the exterior of the pasted margin of the wrapper, and a plate extending :along the other side of said groove and of such heightthatthere is an open gap between it-ahd the tip' of the lap-closing block along the seam, said lap-closing blockhaving its tipcut away'near its far end to permit the adjacent margin of the rod-forming tape to spread outwardly.

fis'I he combination with a traveling rod-forming'tape adapted to forward a cigarette rod having the interior of one of its wrapper margins pa'stedfof' a longitudinallychanneled bottom block adapted to support said tape in its channel, and a lap former secured to said bottom block and hollowed longitudinally to provide, to gether with said channel, a bore in which the pastedmargin is lapped on the other margin to form a seam, said lap former being provided with an open gap along the seam extending ing the interior of one of its wrapper margins pasted, of a longitudinally channeled bottom block adapted to support said tape in its channel, and a lap former secured to said bottom block and hollowed longitudinally to provide, together with said channel, a bore in which the pasted margin is lapped on the other margin to form a seam, said lap former being provided with an open gap along the seam extending across the outer seam edge, whereby the paste squeezed from the seam cannot foul the lap former, a traveling heated sealer band arranged to engage the seam as the cigarette rod is forwarded from between the bottom block and lap former on the rod-forming tape, and a scraper engaging said band, whereby the surplus paste is continuously removed from the cigarette rod.

8. The combination with a traveling rod-forming tape adapted to forward a cigarette rod having the interior of one of its wrapper margins pasted, of a longitudinally channeled bottom block adapted to support said tape in its channel, and a lap former secured to said bottom block and hollowed longitudinally to provide, together with said channel, a bore inwhich the pasted margin is lapped on the other margin to form a seam, said lap former being provided with an open gap along the seam, whereby the paste squeezed from the seam cannot foul the lap former, a traveling heated sealer band arranged to engage the seam as the cigarette rod is forwarded from between the bottom block and lap former on the rod-forming tape, and a scraper engaging said band, whereby the surplus paste is continuously removed from the cigarette rod, said lap former including a lap-closing block secured to said bottom block at one side of said channel and provided with a tip overhanging and terminating on the exterior of the pasted margin of the wrapper, and a plate extending along the other side of said channel and of such height that there is an open gap between it and the tip of the lap-closing block along the seam, said lap-closing block having its tip cut away near its far end to permit the adjacent margin of the tape to spread away from the sealer band and provided with a member extending into the notch thus formed and bearing against the seam.

9. The combination with a traveling rod-forming tape adapted to forward a cigarette rod having the interior of one of its wrapper margins pasted, of a longitudinally channeled bottom block adapted to support said tape in its channel, and a lap former secured to said bottom block and hollowed longitudinally to provide, together with said channel, a bore in which the pasted margin is lapped on the other margin to form a seam, said lap former being provided with an open gap along the seam extending across the outer seamvedge, whereby the paste squeezed from the seam cannot foul the lap former, and a sealer arranged to engage the seam as the cigarette rod is forwarded from between said bottom block and lap former on said tape and remove surplus paste expressed from the seam.

10. In a cigarette rod-forming tube, the combination with a longitudinally channeled bottom block adapted to support in its channel a travel ing cigarette rodhaving the interior of one of its wrapper margins pasted, of a lap former secured to said block and hollowed longitudinally to provide together with said channel a bore in which the pasted margin is lapped on the other margin to form a seam, said lap former including' a lap-closing block secured to said bottom block at one side of said channel and overhanging and terminating on the exterior of the pasted margin of the wrapper short of the edge of the same to prevent fouling of the lap-closing block bythe paste expressed from the seam.

ll. In a cigarette rod-former, the combination with a rod-forming tube having a longitudinally channeled portion adapted to support in its channel a traveling cigarette rod with its paper wrapper partially folded and having the interior of one of its paper margins pasted, said tube having a lap forming portion arranged to fold the pasted margin of the cigarette paper on the other margin to form a seam, said tube being provided with an open gap along the seam and said forming portion terminating at the edge of said gap, short of the seam whereby the paste squeezed from the seam cannot foul the forming portion.

12. In a cigarette-rod former, the combination with a rod-forming tube having a longitudinally channeled portion adapted to support in its channel a traveling cigarette-rod with its paper wrapper partially folded and having the interior of one of its paper margins pasted, of a traveling rod forming tape arranged to forward the cigarette-rod through said tube, said tube having a lap forming portion arranged to fold thepasted margin of the cigarette paper on the other margin to form a seam, said tube being provided with an open gap along the seam and said lap forming portion terminating at the edge of said gap short of the seam.

13. A cigarette rod-forming tube having a bore adapted to permit the passage therethrough of a rod-forming tape carrying a cigarette rod having a partially folded wrapper, the interior of one of the wrapper marginsbeing pasted, and also having a lap-forming portion arranged to fold the pasted margin of the wrapper on the other margin to form a seam, said tube being provided with an open gap along the seam and said lap-forming portion terminating short of the edge of the overlapping wrapper margin whereby the paste squeezed from the seam cannot foul the tube,

14. The combination with a traveling rodforming tape adapted to forward a cigarette rod having the interior of one of its wrapper margins pasted, of a longitudinally channeled bottom block adapted to support said tape in its channel, and a lap former secured to said bottom block and hollowed longitudinally to provide together with said channel a bore in which the pasted margin is lapped on the other margin to form a seam, and a traveling sealer arranged to engage the seam as the cigarette rod is forwarded on said tape from between said bottom block and lap former and remove surplus paste expressed from the seam, said lap former having a member engaging the exterior of the overlapping wrapper margin and terminating thereon short of the edge of the same to prevent fouling of said member by paste squeezed out of said seam.

. 15. The combination with a traveling rodforming tape adapted to forward a cigarette rod having adhesive on the interior of one of its wrapper margins, of a longitudinally channeled bottom block adapted to support said tape in its channel, a lap former secured to said bottom block and hollowed longitudinally to provide together with said channel a bore in which the pasted wrapper margin is lapped on the other margin of the wrapper to form a seam and the tape adjacent its longitudinal edges is pressed against the rod, said lap former including a lapclosing block secured to said bottom block and notched at one end to permit the underlying margin of the tape to spread away from the cigarette rod after the seam has been formed by said block, and a plate engaging the other margin of the tape along the length of said block to maintain said margin in a substantially vertical position.

16. The combination with a traveling rod-' forming tape adapted to forward a cigarette rod having adhesive on the interior of one of its wrapper margins, of a rod-forming tube adapted to inwardly fold the tape margins together and the wrapper margins to lap the adhesive-coated margin on the other wrapper margin, and form a seam, a heated sealer engaging the seam to finish the rod after it emerges from said tube, and a member arranged to engage only the outer wrapper margin within said tube after the formation of the seam and maintain the same in contact with the inner wrapper margin until that porwrapper margins, of a rod-forming tube adapted to inwardly fold the margins of the tape together with the margins of the wrapper, to lap the adhesive-coatd margin on the other wrapper margin and form a seam, a heated traveling self-cleaning sealer engaging the seam to finish the cigarette rod and remove surplus adhesive squeezed out of the seam, and a member arranged to engage only the outer wrapper margin within said tube after the formation of the seam and until the outer wrapper margin reaches said sealer, said member being provided with an open portion arranged to admit the tape margin overlying the outer wrapper margin and permit the said tape margin to spread itself out of the path of the sealer.

1 FRANK DI IAN'N'I. 

